EU Statement on the Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine

1. The European Union strongly condemns the latest wave of massive missile
and drone attacks carried out by Russia against Ukraine. On 24 August, a
Russian missile struck a hotel in the town of Kramatorsk, in Ukraine’s
Donetsk oblast, killing a Reuters staff member and injuring four journalists.
Throughout the following week, Russia launched its most brutal assault
since February 2022, deploying at least 109 drones and 127 missiles
against Ukraine on 26 August alone. This was followed by further attacks
on 27 August, 30 August, and 1-2 September, targeting Kyiv, Kharkiv, and
Sumy oblasts, as well as the cities of Poltava and Lviv on 3 and 4
September, respectively, resulting in several civilian fatalities.

2. According to Ukrainian authorities, these attacks targeted critical energy
infrastructure and residential buildings across fifteen Ukrainian regions,
including the capital, Kyiv. At least eleven energy facilities were affected,
further worsening access to energy and water for millions of people in
Ukraine. The appalling civilian toll from Russia’s strikes on residential areas
in Kharkiv on 30 August, which claimed at least six lives, including that of a
child, and left more than 80 others wounded, is emblematic of Russia’s
systematic disregard for human life and its violation of fundamental
principles of international law.

3. This relentless assault on Ukraine's cities, towns, and villages is a
continuation of Russia’s pattern of massive damage that cannot be allowed
to become routine. The toll on civilians continues to rise as missiles, shells,
and drones strike daily, inflicting death, devastation, displacement, and
unimaginable suffering. According to OHCHR, July was the deadliest month
for civilians since October 2022, with at least 219 killed and over 1000
injured, including 60 children. We repeat our call on Russia to immediately
and unconditionally halt its systematic air strikes against Ukraine’s civilians
as well as civilian objects, which blatantly violate international humanitarian
law. The EU will sustain its support for efforts by national and international
investigative bodies and monitoring mechanisms in gathering evidence of
Russia’s violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law
in Ukraine.

4. Among many heinous acts, Russia attempted to strike the Kyiv
Hydroelectric Power Plant, such an attack could replicate the catastrophic
destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in June 2023. Such actions are not only
reprehensible but may also constitute war crimes, as they aim to flood
densely populated areas, causing loss of life and untold suffering, as well
as environmental damage. This relentless assault on Ukraine’s energy
infrastructure is a deliberate attack on the very lifeblood of Ukraine’s
economy and civilian population, aimed at plunging millions into darkness
and cold as winter approaches. These actions clearly demonstrate Russia's
ongoing blatant disregard for international law and its callous calculation to
make Ukraine uninhabitable. All those responsible will be held accountable.

5. Moreover, Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine poses a
grave threat to nuclear safety and security, with potentially severe
consequences for Ukraine and its neighbouring countries, as well as wider
global repercussions. None of these risks existed before Russia’s full-scale
invasion of Ukraine and its illegal seizure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power
Plant. As we have seen, Russia has been carrying out large-scale attacks
regularly targeting civilian infrastructure, such as power plants, electricity
substations, and gas storage facilities across Ukraine. These attacks also
increase the risk of a nuclear accident due to periodic loss of off-site power
for all Ukrainian nuclear power plants. The EU reiterates its support for the
work of the IAEA and its Director General under these unprecedented
circumstances and calls for the respect of the seven indispensable pillars
for ensuring nuclear safety and security during armed conflict. The EU calls
once more on Russia to implement unconditionally the IAEA Board and
General Conference resolutions, as well as the UN General Assembly
Resolution on “Safety and Security of Nuclear Facilities of Ukraine,
including the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant” adopted on 11 July.

6. There is no room for ambiguity: Russia, the aggressor, seeks to subjugate
Ukraine— as repeatedly declared by the Kremlin and its propaganda
machine—by targeting civilians and critical energy infrastructure in a
campaign of terror. Ukraine is exercising its legitimate right of self-defence,
aiming to protect its people, sovereignty, and territorial integrity through its
defensive operations and to diminish Russia’s capacity to continue its war
of aggression, in line with international law.

7. We remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine’s independence,
sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised
borders. We reconfirm our unwavering commitment to providing continued
multifaceted support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes and as
intensely as needed, based on Ukraine’s urgent needs.

8. The path to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace requires the
aggressor, Russia, to stop its unprovoked, unjustifiable and illegal war of
aggression, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its forces and
military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its
internationally recognised borders, and respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and
territorial integrity. We urge all countries not to provide material or other
support for Russia’s war of aggression, which is a blatant violation of
international law, including the UN Charter, and the OSCE’s core principles
and commitments.


The Candidate Countries NORTH MACEDONIA*, MONTENEGRO*, ALBANIA*,
UKRAINE, the REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA, BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA*,
GEORGIA, and the EFTA countries ICELAND, LIECHTENSTEIN, and NORWAY
members of the European Economic Area, as well as ANDORRA, and MONACO
align themselves with this statement.
*North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to
be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process